For My Daughters, For Myself, and For the Women Who Came Before Me
I know plenty of people who have mixed feelings about special observance months, and honestly, I get it. Why set aside a month to celebrate accomplishments that should be recognized all year long? In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need them.
But our world is far from perfect.
March—Women’s History Month—always makes me pause. It’s a reminder not just of how far we’ve come, but of the moments, people, and lessons that have shaped me. And more than anything, it makes me think about my daughters.
My passion for uplifting others, for creating workplaces where everyone feels like they belong, isn’t just about my personal experiences. It’s about building a better future for them. A world where they won’t have to fight so hard for a seat at the table—because they’ll be the ones leading the meeting.
Maggie (left, 9), Mia (center, 6), McKinley (right, 12)
What I’ve Learned
I could write a book on this (and actually, I have—stay tuned!). But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that stepping into the workforce is the start of a whole new kind of education.
School teaches us how to write, calculate, and problem-solve. But nothing quite prepares us for navigating a system that wasn’t exactly designed with women in mind.
We have to learn:
How to use our voices—and when to listen.
How to claim space—without apologizing for it.
How to filter out the noise and trust ourselves.
Because the truth is, you don’t need permission to take up space. Walk in like you belong—because you do.
And quit trying to be perfect! Perfection is overrated. Seriously. Show up, do the work, and keep going.
And lastly, the loudest person in the room isn’t always the smartest. Learn to trust your gut. Find a space where your voice is heard and valued. If the space you’re in doesn’t embrace what you bring to the table—girl, find another table to sit at.
That last one? That’s the hardest. When the world constantly tells you that your opinions matter less, that you need to prove yourself more, it’s easy to second-guess. But confidence isn’t something we’re given—it’s something we build.
Choose Your Inner Voice
Some leaders inspire us to be bold. Others? Well… they teach us what not to do. And both types have shaped me.
I’ve had leaders who made me cry (more than one). I’ve had leaders who believed in me before I believed in myself. I’ve had leaders who banged their heads on the table because they saw my potential, and I was still too full of doubt to see it myself.
But the ones who pushed me, who truly saw me, who trusted me to rise? Those are the voices I keep in my head. The ones I lean on when imposter syndrome sneaks in.
We can’t always control the voice in our head, but we can make a choice:
Quiet the self-doubt.
Turn up the volume on the people who see your worth.
Remind yourself of the value you bring—because it matters.
Raising the Next Generation
I never realized the weight of responsibility I’d feel for other women—until I had daughters. I never knew how deeply I’d care about the inequities in our world until I looked at them and thought, I want better for you.
I never fully grasped the magic we hold as girls—until I saw it in them. Unfiltered. Untainted. Ready for exploration.
If we want the future to look different, we have to be the ones who change it. That means mentoring, advocating, and making sure the next generation knows their worth. Because we’re not here to fit into an old system—we’re here to build a better one.
To all the women out there grinding, leading, dreaming, and making things happen—I see you. Keep pushing forward. And don’t forget to turn around and pull another woman up with you.